Railroad traffic-signal



S. G. CHENOWETH.

RAILROAD TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29.1919.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET l- S. G. CHENOWETH.

RAILROAD TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29.1919.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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Warren STATES PAENT curios.

SQUIRE Gr. CHENOWETH, OF GREENVILLE, OHIO.

RAILROAD TRAFFIC-SIGNAL.

Application filed July 29, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SQUIRE Gr. CHENO- wnRTI-I, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Greenville, in the county of Darke and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Railroad Traffic-Signals, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, relatively inexpensive and ellicient railway trafiic signal adapted for arrange ment at crossings as a means of warning pedestrians and the drivers of vehicles of the approach of a train, and to this end the in vention consists in a construction and combination of parts of which a preferred em bodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that changes in form and proportion may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the principles involved.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a section of railway track illustrating; an arrangement of signal embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of a portion of a railway track adjacent to which the operating tread or ramp is located.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the portion of track illustrated in Fig. 2 to indicate the arrangement of the tread or ramp.

Fig. 4c is a transverse sectional view on the plane indicated by the line 1 1 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the opposite wheels of a truck fitted with ramp operating flanges or treads.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the semaphore or signal post.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the plane ind1- cated by the line 7-7 of Fig. 6 to show the means for holding the signal post in its adjusted positions.

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view to show the means whereby motion is communicated to the signal post.

Fig. 9 is a detail view in perspective of the operating arm or lever by which motion 1s communicated to the signal post.

Fig 10 is a similar view of the stop or holding pawl.

A section of track 10 is illustrated in Fig. 1 as being intersected by a grade crossing 11 adjacent to which is located a signal post 12 bearing a suitable warning legend as indi- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

Serial No. 314,134.

cated at 13, said post being revolubly mounted as by a stem or spindle 14: mounted in a suitable box 15 and having attached thereto an operating ratchet 16 for engagement by pawls 17 on the operating arm or lever 18, said pawls being spring-actuated and being designed to successively engage the teeth of the ratchet to advance the ratchet and hence the post from a neutral to an active or warning position and from the latter to the neutral position as a train respectively approaches and leaves the crossing. Also preferably attached to the post 12 is a holding ratchet 19 arranged in a box or housing 20 in which are mounted holding pawls 21 having cams 22 for engagement by trip lugs 23 carried by the operating arm or lever so that while said holding pawls by engage ment with the ratchet 19 serve to maintain the post with its signal in an adjusted position, the movement of the operating arm or lever 18 will serve through the lugs 23 and their engagement with the cams 22, to disengage the holding pawls to permit of the movement of the post by means of the operating pawls 17 and ratchet 16 to a new position.

The ramp by which motion is communicated to the operating arm or lever of the signal post consists of elements 24: and 25 pivotally connected together as at 26 and having their remote ends preferably pivoted as at 27 and slidingly engaged as at 28 with the rails, the intermediate or connected ends of said tread or ramp members being attached to a crank 29 of a shaft .30 mounted transversely of the track and having an arm 31 connected by a rod 32 to said lever 18. The wheels of any suitable truck of the engine or train should be provided with tread flanges 33 as indicated in Fig. 5 for engagement with the ramps as the train approaches and recedes from the crossing, the operation of one set of ramps serving to turn the signal from neutral to active position and the operation of the other set of ramps serving to further advance the signal post to the neutral position.

What is claimed is:

1. A railway traffic or crossing signal having a revoluble post adapted for movement alternately to active and neutral positions, operating means including a lever for imparting step by step rotary movement to said post, and wheel operated ramps located on the railway road-bed at opposite sides of the point of intersection with the crossing for successive operation by a passing train.

2. A railway traflic or crossing signal having a revoluble post adapted for step by step movement to alternately occupy active and neutral positions, operating and holding ratchet mechanisms connected with said post, an operating arm or lever connected with the operating ratchet mechanism and having a trip stud for releasing the holding ratchet mechanisms, and a wheel-operated track ramp operatively'connected with said lever. V

'3. A railway traffic or crossing signal having a revoluble signal post adapted for step by step movement to alternately occupy active and neutral positions, operating and holding ratchets secured to sald post, holding pawls in operative engagement with the holding ratchet and provided with cam surfaces, an operating lever fulcrumed upon the post and provided with operating pawls for engagement with the operating ratchet to advance said post, said lever being provided with trip studs for engagement with the cams of said holding pawls for releasing the holding ratchet, and wheel-operated track ramps disposed at opposite sides of the crossing and operatively connected with said lever In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

SQUIRE G. GHENOWETH.

fiopies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latcuts,

' Washington, D. 0." 

